Air duct device for refrigerator

ABSTRACT

An air duct device for refrigerator includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a fan motor. The first compartment has a front opening and a rear opening. The second compartment has a front opening, and the second compartment is disposed by the first compartment and connected with the first compartment through an intermediate opening. The fan motor provided at a first location close to the front opening of the first compartment for taking in air from outside and blowing the air into the first compartment toward the rear opening of the first compartment. The condenser is installed at a second location between the first location and the rear opening of the first compartment and the compressor is installed at a third location between the second location and the the rear opening of the first compartment and the compressor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air duct device for refrigerator.

Considering that refrigerators are machine for cooling, it is an irony for them to have chronic overheat problems.

There are ways to solve the problems. The present invention is about one of the ways, getting rid of hot air from inside of the refrigerators.

Accordingly, a need for an air duct device for refrigerator has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide an air duct device for refrigerator.

An air duct device for refrigerator having a condenser and a compressor comprises a first compartment, a second compartment, and a fan motor.

The first compartment has a front opening and a rear opening.

The second compartment has a front opening, and the second compartment is disposed by the first compartment and connected with the first compartment through an intermediate opening.

The fan motor provided at a first location close to the front opening of the first compartment for taking in air from outside and blowing the air into the first compartment toward the rear opening of the first compartment.

The condenser is installed at a second location between the first location and the rear opening of the first compartment and the compressor is installed at a third location between the second location and the the rear opening of the first compartment.

The fan motor forces the air to flow from outside into the first compartment, such that a first part of the air is vented through the rear opening of the first compartment and a second part of the air through the intermediate opening into the second compartment and then through the front opening of the second compartment.

The air from the outside may flow into and through the first compartment working as an internal air duct.

The air from the first compartment may flow into and through the second compartment working as an external air duct.

The cross-sectional area of the second compartment may be substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first compartment.

The cross-sectional area of the front opening of the first compartment may be approximately equal to sum of the cross-sectional areas of the rear opening of the first compartment and the front opening of the second compartment.

The absorbing power of the fan motor may be adjusted to be enough for the second part of the air to be vented through the front opening of the second compartment.

The air may be directed to flow through the condenser and the compressor.

The air duct device may further comprise a dividing flange provided between the front openings of the first and second compartments, and the dividing flange may be slanted toward the first compartment such that the vented air from the second compartment is directed away from the front opening of the first compartment.

Alternatively, the air duct device may further comprise a plurality of first columns of directing plates provided in front of the front opening of the first compartment, and the first directing plates may be controllable to direct the air flow from the front opening of the first compartment. The plurality of first columns of directing plates may be detachable.

Also, the air duct device may further comprise a plurality of second columns of directing plates provided in front of the front opening of the second compartment, and the second directing plates may be controllable to direct the air flow from the front opening of the second compartment. The plurality of second columns of directing plates may be detachable.

The intermediate opening between the first and second compartments may be disposed obliquely by an angle with respect to a dividing wall between the first and second compartments.

The angle may be determined by the ratio of a width of the second opening to a width of the first opening.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the air duct device facilitates air flow through the refrigerator; and (2) the air duct device facilitates air flow through the refrigerator even in a small space.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a conventional air duct device;

FIG. 2 is a another perspective view showing an air duct device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the air duct device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an air duct according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an air duct for an air duct device according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an air duct with a directing flange for an air duct device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 2-4 show an air duct device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows an air duct for an air duct device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In a conventional air duct device of a refrigerator 90, the air flows as shown in FIG. 1. Air is taken in from outside, passes through regions of condenser 92 and compressor 94, and is blown out of the inside toward the rear (A) and the side (B) of the refrigerator 90.

In the above conventional refrigerator, the air heated up by the condenser 92 and the compressor 94, may be difficult to be blown away and removed from the inside, especially if the openings to the rear or to the side are blocked by obstacles such as wall.

Once the hot air lingers longer in the refrigerator 90, the temperature increases and the hot atmosphere may inflict some damages to some sensitive parts of the refrigerator 90 such as electronic devices.

In order to solve the above ventilating and overheating problems, the present invention provides the followings solutions.

An air duct device 100 for refrigerator 90 having a condenser 92 and a compressor 94 comprises a first compartment 10, a second compartment 20, and a fan motor 30.

The first compartment 10 has a front opening 12 and a rear opening 14 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The second compartment 20 has a front opening 22, and the second compartment 20 is disposed by the first compartment 10 and connected with the first compartment 10 through an intermediate opening 24 as shown in FIG. 4.

The fan motor 30 provided at a first location close to the front opening 12 of the first compartment 10 for taking in air from outside and blowing the air into the first compartment 10 toward the rear opening 14 of the first compartment 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The condenser is installed at a second location between the first location and the rear opening 14 of the first compartment 10 and the compressor 94 is installed at a third location between the second location and the the rear opening 14 of the first compartment 10.

The fan motor 30 forces the air (T) to flow from outside into the first compartment 10, such that a first part (R) of the air is vented through the rear opening 14 of the first compartment 10 and a second part (F) of the air through the intermediate opening 24 into the second compartment 20 and then through the front opening 22 of the second compartment 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The air from the outside may flow into and through the first compartment 10 working as an internal air duct.

The air from the first compartment 10 may flow into and through the second compartment 20 working as an external air duct.

The cross-sectional area of the second compartment 20 may be substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first compartment 10.

The cross-sectional area of the front opening 12 of the first compartment 10 may be approximately equal to sum of the cross-sectional areas of the rear opening 14 of the first compartment 10 and the front opening 22 of the second compartment 20, so that the air input to the inside is substantially equal to the air output from the inside.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the front opening 12 of the first compartment 10 may be smaller than sum of the cross-sectional areas of the rear opening 14 of the first compartment 10 and the front opening 22 of the second compartment 20, so as to counteract to some resistance of air flow through the first opening 22 of the second compartment 20.

The absorbing power of the fan motor 30 may be adjusted to be enough for the second part (F) of the air to be vented through the front opening 22 of the second compartment 20, which is also for overcoming some resistance of air flow through the first opening 22 of the second compartment 20.

The air may be directed to flow through the condenser 92 and the compressor 94. The cold air from outside is blown over and through the condenser 92 and the compressor 94, so as to cool them down. Therefore, the air input (T) is cooler than the air output (R, F).

The air duct device 100 may further comprise a dividing flange 50 provided between the front openings 12, 22 of the first and second compartments 10, 20, and the dividing flange 50 may be slanted toward the first compartment 10 such that the vented air from the second compartment 20 is directed away from the front opening 12 of the first compartment 10 as shown in FIG. 6.

Alternatively, the air duct device 100 may further comprise a plurality of first columns of directing plates 16 provided in front of the front opening 12 of the first compartment 10, and the first directing plates 16 may be controllable to direct the air flow from the front opening 12 of the first compartment 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

Also, the air duct device 100 may further comprise a plurality of second columns of directing plates 26 provided in front of the front opening 22 of the second compartment 20, and the second directing plates 26 may be controllable to direct the air flow from the front opening 22 of the second compartment 20 as shown in FIG. 3. The plurality of second columns of directing plates 26 may be detachable.

The intermediate opening 24 between the first and second compartments 10, 20 may be disposed obliquely by an angle with respect to a dividing wall 21 between the first and second compartments 10, 20. as shown in FIG. 5.

The angle may be determined by the ratio of a width of the rear opening 14 to a width of the front opening 12. Such a oblique intermediate opening 24 may facilitate the air flow from the first compartment 10 to the second compartment 20.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air duct device for refrigerator having a condenser and a compressor, the air duct device comprising: a first compartment having a front opening and a rear opening; a second compartment having a front opening, wherein the second compartment is disposed by the first compartment and connected with the first compartment through an intermediate opening; and a fan motor provided at a first location close to the front opening of the first compartment for taking in air from outside and blowing the air into the first compartment toward the rear opening of the first compartment, wherein the condenser is installed at a second location between the first location and the rear opening of the first compartment and the compressor is installed at a third location between the second location and the the rear opening of the first compartment, wherein the fan motor forces the air to flow from outside into the first compartment, such that a first part of the air is vented through the rear opening of the first compartment and a second part of the air through the intermediate opening into the second compartment and then through the front opening of the second compartment.
 2. The air duct device of claim 1, wherein the air from the outside flows into and through the first compartment working as an internal air duct.
 3. The air duct device of claim 2, wherein the air from the first compartment flows into and through the second compartment working as an external air duct.
 4. The air duct device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the second compartment is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first compartment.
 5. The air duct device of claim 4, wherein the cross-sectional area of the front opening of the first compartment is approximately equal to sum of the cross-sectional areas of the rear opening of the first compartment and the front opening of the second compartment.
 6. The air duct device of claim 1, wherein the absorbing power of the fan motor is adjusted to be enough for the second part of the air to be vented through the front opening of the second compartment.
 7. The air duct device of claim 1, wherein the air is directed to flow through the condenser and the compressor.
 8. The air duct device of claim 1, further comprising a dividing flange provided between the front openings of the first and second compartments, wherein the dividing flange is slanted toward the first compartment such that the vented air from the second compartment is directed away from the front opening of the first compartment.
 9. The air duct device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first columns of directing plates provided in front of the front opening of the first compartment, wherein the first directing plates are controllable to direct the air flow from the front opening of the first compartment.
 10. The air duct device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first columns of directing plates are detachable.
 11. The air duct device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second columns of directing plates provided in front of the front opening of the second compartment, wherein the second directing plates are controllable to direct the air flow from the front opening of the second compartment.
 12. The air duct device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first columns of directing plates are detachable.
 13. The air duct device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate opening between the first and second compartments is disposed obliquely by an angle with respect to a dividing wall between the first and second compartments.
 14. The air duct device of claim 13, wherein the angle is determined by the ratio of a width of the second opening to a width of the first opening. 